Aims

Completing our two day course qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.

The free two day in-depth youth MHFA course is open to education staff in primary, secondary, special educational needs schools, sixth form, and further education colleges, as well as Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision staff in state funded London schools.

Youth Mental Health First Aiders have:

-- An in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing

-- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues

-- Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress

-- Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening

-- Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether that’s through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix – engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate

-- Ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive

-- Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing

The course is delivered in four manageable chunks:

-- About mental health

-- Depression and anxiety

-- Suicide and psychosis

-- Self-harm and eating disorders  

Summary

The two-day course aims to ensure all delegates become Mental Health First Aiders, in addition to preserve life where a young person may be a danger to themselves or others

• provide help to prevent the mental health issue developing into a more serious state
• promote the recovery of good mental health
• provide comfort to a young person experiencing a mental health issue
• raise awareness of mental health issues in the community
• reduce stigma and discrimination